Mud mixer



1947- R. E. FONTENOT ET AL 2 MUD MIXER 1 Filed July 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors WW HM 1947- R. E. 'FONTENOT ET AL.- 2,425,524 I MUD MIXER Filed July 21, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v ZZZW oZ y r Inventor; 0212 9220? Patented Aug. 12, 1947 MUD MIXER Bernie Elton Fontenot and Robert H. Dooley, Ville Platte, La., assignors of one-third to Atlee P. Steckler, Ville Platte, La.

Application July 21, 1944, Serial No. 545,967

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a mud mixer for handling various types of muds such as are used in the drilling of oil and gas wells in this country and elsewhere, and the primary purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and'expedient structure which is aptly designed to achieve the desired aims with assured reliability.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a special lid or cover-equipped conical hopper, this for reception of the dry mud from the slitted bag, the hopper having connection at its lower discharge end with a concentrating triple T-shaped adapter device, the latter for connection at one side to an intake pump and at the opposite side to the suction pits, and there being a vent in the hopper and leading into said adapter to achieve desired results with requisite efficiency.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, I have evolved and produced a structure which is destined to accomplish, in a resultful manner, the complete aims put forth, the same being characterized by the utmost simplicity of construction, durability, and possessed of such other factors as will serve to produce a feasible and practicable mixer.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a perspective view of a mudmixer constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention with the lid or cover shown in the process of being swung to open position.

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional and elevational view of the lid supporting and retaining members.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be seen that the hopper into which the dry bagged mud is adapted to be deposited is denoted by the numeral 5. This is of conical upstanding type and provided on one side, which may be called the front, with a pair of circumferentially spaced keeper sockets 6, these to accommodate hinged keeper pins 1, hinged in place, as at 8, and carried by the marginal edge portion of the dome-shaped lid or cover 9. These pins are adapted to drop down into the keeper sockets, as shown in Figure 4,

to support the cover in elevated position above the open top of the hopper. On the diametrically opposite side the lid is provided with rigid straps l0 hingedly connected to the marginal portion of the hopper, as at H. The numerals l2 designate stay chains which limit the, opening movement of the lid, this sufficient to permit the dry mud from the slitted bag to be dumped into the hopper. As brought out in Figure 2, the lower concentrating and feeder end of the hopper is connected with the perpendicular branch I3 of a T-shaped adapter or fitting l4, this being mounted on a suitable base l5 which sits on the floor or elsewhere. end i! is adapted to be connected with the socalled suction mud pits (not shown). A plug I8 is threaded in the right hand end, and this carries a nozzle pipe I9 which is connected to the conventional or customary pump (not shown). The left hand end of this pipe l9 extends beyond the discharge end l3 of the hopper 5 to act upon an injector principle by discharging Water under pressure through the nozzle pipe Hi to draw the dry mud placed within said hopper 5 into the chamber or fitting M to mix with the controlled air entering through the air vent or inlet pipe 2 to form mud which will be discharged through the pipe I6 to a mud pit (not shown).

As shown in Figure 2, the spiders 29 at vertically spaced points within the conical hopper serve to support a centrally disposed air vent or inlet pipe 2| whose lower end extends down through the intake l3 and into the fitting or adapter I4 terminating well below the top of said fitting. The upper end extends beneath. the crown portion of the lid and is provided with a suitably constructed hand-regulated air venting valve 22 whereby the amount of air drawn through the air inlet pipe 2| into the mixing chamber I4 may be regulated to effectively control the pressure and mixture of the water and mud entering said chamber to prevent packing v or clogging up in said mixing chamber, a condition which would occur were not additional air admitted with the mud and water to the mixing chamber, and the amount of air suitably controlled.

The invention constitutes a streamlined super mud mixer and is a labor saver and a saver of time and money. It is an accurate mud mixer of either of the following mixtures, magrojel, baroid, agrojel, ville clay, and other muds used in the drilling of oil and gas wells over the country. It will be noted that the external appearance of the mixer is in the shape of a cone meas- A pipe It in the left hand uring forty-two inches by thirty inches. The lid, attached by hinges, is a water or rain protector. The chain attached to the side of the lid prevents it from going too far back and also assists in the immediate dumping of the bags into the cone when needed. These sacks are stripped open at one end and just turned over into the cone and by this method of invention the mud goes into the cone in small quantities without stopping up and is utilized without the necessity of an individual watching it so that it will not clog up the cone as is presently being done without the apparatus.

After the mixer has been erected. the top is raised and one man can tear open one, two or three sacks of mud and place them in the mixer and pull the top down and this mud will be taken into the trough and pits evenl and uniformly without blocking, sticking or congestion and without the necessity of a man being there to watch and prevent its con'gstiomblockin'g or spilling of any of the mud. This device and mixer has a uniform suction which draws the mud evenly and timely, which prevents ail of the old method of having tostick around in order "to prevent the above-mentioned congestion.

Novelty is predicated upon the inverted domelike lid elevated and hinge'dly attached at one side to the open top hopper, the restraining chains therefor and the keeper pins hinged thereon and fitting into keeper sockets. Novelty is also predicated on the vent pipe extending above the open top of the hopper and located beneath the dome and having its lower venting end disposed in the adapter coupling or s'o-ca'lled choke nipple it. .All of the parts singly and collectively are presumed to present limited features of refinement -colleet'iv'ely contributing to the structureas a whole. e A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as tillustratedin the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty suftficient to clarifythe construction-of the invention 7 1. A device of the character described including 7 stricted outlet, a mixing chamber connected with said restricted outlet and extending transversely thereof and having a discharge outlet, a high pressure fluid discharge pipe arranged axially in said chamber below said restricted outlet and terminating at a point beyond said restricted outlet adjacent said discharge outlet, an air inlet pipe supported centrally of said hopper extending through said restricted outlet and terminating at a point within said mixing chamber, the upper. end of said air inlet pipe extending above said hopper, and valve means on the upper end of said air inlet pipe for controlling the amount of air drawn through said pipe into said mixing chamher to effectively control the pressure and mixture therein to prevent packing or clogging up in said mixing chamber.

2. A device of the character described including an inverted conical shaped hopper having a restricted outlet, a mixing chamber connected with said restricted outlet and extending transversely thereof and having a discharge outlet adaptedsto be connected with a suction mud pit, a high pres sure "fluid discharge pipe arranged axially in said chamber below said restricted outlet and terminating at a point beyond said restricted outlet adjacent said discharge outlet, an air inlet pipe supported centrally of said hopper' extending through said restricted outlet and-terminating. at a point within said mixing chamber, theupper end of said air inlet pipe extending'above' said hopper, valve means on the upper end of said 7 Number Name Date 1,5 3,975 Eichelberg'er Nov.;4,-1924 97 8,66 7 Sicka l Dec. 13', 1-910 1,000,689 Paterson 1 Aug. 15, 19111 r 1,478,865 Weber Dec. 25,1923 7 2,125,913 Goebels Aug. 9,1938 1,541,352 Halliburton V June 9; 1925 2,001,50

; Smith May 14, 1935 

